American Sycamore – Fortress of the Stream Bank

One of eastern North America’s greatest native trees is the American Sycamore, Platanus occidentals. Perhaps the most endearing feature of this legendary tree is its bark, especially in winter when the white bark, mottled with green and brown is fully exposed.

Perhaps the most endearing feature of the American Sycamore is its bark.

These trees often exceed a hundred feet in height and stand guard along streams like the bones of giant wizards, protecting the stream banks from erosion and providing many ecosystem services.

One of the Most Important Riparian Trees in North America

They are one of the most important riparian trees because they readily colonize deforested areas since their seeds are spread by wind and water. They are fast growing and cuttings will easily take root. I have seen poles cut from living sycamore branches and young trunks inserted into pre-dug holes take root and prosper.

According to the late Donald Peattie, botanist, “The Sycamore is, in girth of trunk, the largest deciduous hardwood of North America” (1). Francois Michaux, in 1802 measured a sycamore on the banks of the Ohio River “at four feet beyond the surface of the soil, and found it forty-seven feet in circumference” (2). “So it was that pioneers often stabled a horse, cow or hog in a hollow Sycamore, and sometimes a whole family took shelter in such a hospitable giant” (3).

These are the fruiting bodies of the American Sycamore. When they ripen their seeds will disperse via wind and water.

Button Balls

The fruiting structures of the Sycamore are often called “button balls” because they are round and about one inch in diameter. When the seed balls mature they split apart revealing their nutlets with downy awns much like dandelion seeds. Wind and water can rapidly disperse these seeds to become new guardians along streams.

The wood is hard and difficult to split. Pioneers used cut-out portions of the trunk as solid wheels and Native Americans used the hollowed out trunks for canoes. Today the wood is used to make butcher blocks because of its unwillingness to split.

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Interesting article. We have a very old grove of Sycamores in a pasture, but none along the nearby stream. We are losing one or so annually, which makes me wonder how long this variety can be expected to live.

I was unaware these trees could be propagated by inserting bare limbs in soil. Will try this in the Spring, but will probably begin with a few small branches planted in containers.

The suitability and prominence of this variety in riparian areas makes me wonder why our forester has never included Sycamores in our CREP and WHIP plantings.

These trees are found in Great Britain (London Plane Trees) and in Europe (Platanen) planted profusely as ornamentals in town squares, parks, and along allees, where they are annually pruned to relatively short, stubby heights, which produce lovely shaped crowns the following Spring.

Denman, thanks for taking the time to post a comment. We usually do not recommend planting Sycamore seedlings because we believe they will come on their own without us planting them. For cuttings, yes, wait until spring and try a “sucker”. It will root readily. The “plane” trees of Europe are a hybrid cousin on our American Sycamore. All the best to you and happy holidays.

The Pringle brothers, objecting to serving in the British American Army in 1764, deserted at Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg) and traipsed to what is now Upshur County WV. There they took shelter, during a violent thunderstorm, in the hollow of a particularly large American Sycamore, said to have an inside diameter of at least 8′. They found the tree to be so commodious, the local hunting so plentiful, and the native Americans relatively hospitable, that they lived in the tree hollow for two years, until the army was disbanded and they were no longer considered deserters. One of the brothers returned with his family and a band of settlers and established homesteads at the site. They were the first European settlers to Buckhannon, then in Augusta County, Virginia. A descendent to the Pringle Tree stands in a small park at the site.

Thanks for this interesting post. I have always loved sycamores for their looks and their ability to shelter human and animals. Was it a sycamore in My Side of the Mountain by Jean George? One of my favorite childhood books, along with the Sherlock Holmes stories based on acute observations.

Just goes to show mother nature will provide fore the needy. Talking about living or taking shelter in a giant Sycamore will do in a pinch. But long term shelter was a risk in these monster trees. Bats often lived in these trees and we know what bats carry, not to mention the droppings that covered the ground. I’m also sure the smell had to be overpowering,also the big tree would be the last place you want to be during a thunderstorm. Loved all the information and history.

I just found this on a social media site. I am in the market for land and would like well water, is this statement below true about sycamore trees?

“…. a sycamore tree, is a definitive sign of water underground. A sycamore this size will consume about 400 gallons of water a day. When looking for land, look for sycamore or soft maple to ensure your land has water for a well.”

Michelle, well, sort of. Sycamores grow well in land adjacent to streams so the groundwater table is usually very close to the surface. My recommendation is for you to look at the soils of the land you want to buy. Go to web soil survey to find out. Or contact me and I’ll help you.